Canadiens 4 - 3 Predators
Final - OT
  for this game

Canadiens top Preds on Desharnais' OT winner

Dec 22, 2013 - 4:38 AM Nashville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - David Desharnais' unassisted goal 1:43 into overtime lifted the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

The Canadiens coughed up a 3-0 lead over the last two periods but were saved by Desharnais, who collided with Mattias Ekholm at the left boards and plucked the puck from the Predators defenseman before rifling a slapshot far-side past Carter Hutton from the left circle.

Instead of walking away with just a point -- or worse, empty-handed -- the Canadiens secured the two points they looked to have safely wrapped up early on.

"We definitely didn't want to come out on the losing end of that one," said Montreal goaltender Carey Price, who had 31 saves.

P.K. Subban, Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec also scored for the Canadiens.

Shea Weber's power play goal tied the game for Nashville with 6:20 remaining in regulation. Gabriel Bourque and Nick Spaling had the other goals and Hutton made 17 saves after coming in for starter Marek Mazanec, who was lifted after giving up three goals in the first period.

The Canadiens had lost four of their last six coming in, scoring just seven goals in those six games. They are 1-1 on a six-game road trip but won't play again until facing the Tampa Bay Lightning next Saturday.

The Predators have lost three in a row, but coach Barry Trotz considered the point his team earned against the Canadiens to be well-earned.

"We buckled down and ... stayed with it," he said. "Instead of pouting about it we got determined and relentless and chipped away at their lead."

Montreal scored three times in a span of 3:07 in the first period. Subban struck first with a slap shot from the high slot, Pacioretty deked to his backhand on a break to beat Mazanec and Plekanec capped the surge at 14:37 when he tipped in Brian Gionta's try on a give-and-go.

Bourque got the Predators on the board 11:51 into the second period, beating Price glove-side with a high shot from the right circle.

Spaling tipped in Weber's pass for a power play goal with 1:51 left in the and Weber tied the game, also on a power play, after potting Mike Fisher's pass from behind the net with a shot from the left circle.

Game Notes

Mazanec allowed three goals on five shots ... The Predators were 2-for-2 on the power play ... Nashville remains home to play the Boston Bruins on Monday.






Related News